He said: "Ensuring that the brilliance of the men and women in this (Thales) building and many others like it around Australia results in more exports of our defence industry products, of our defence industry technology and delivers more jobs, more 21st century advanced manufacturing, advanced technology jobs, here in Australia."

Shadow defence minister Richard Marles was quick to remind voters of the unpleasant meaning of innovation.

He said in reply to the Prime Minister: "Remember it was under this Government that we saw the loss of the Australian car manufacturing sector."